And to think we thought he had too much time on his hands... Macaulay Culkin turns apartment into studio to form art collective

PUBLISHED: 01:21 EST, 9 September 2012 | UPDATED: 16:03 EST, 9 September 2012

He shocked the world with his gaunt, sickly appearance earlier this year.

But Macaulay Culkin looks much healthier and lucid in a video promoting new art exhibition Leisure Inferno, which runs from September 13 to December 15 at New York's Le Poisson Rouge gallery.

The troubled 32-year-old, who is worth a reported $15 million, created Three Men and a Baby (3MB), an art collective with friends Adam Green and Toby Goodshank.

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Artful change: Macaulay Culkin looked much healthier and lucid in a recently-released video promoting his new art exhibition, Leisure Inferno, which opens September 13 at New York's Le Poisson Rouge gallery

And the trio have been using Culkin's $2m New York apartment as an elaborate painting studio.

'We cleared out everything, laid down plastic and went a little nuts at the art supply store,' the Home Alone star said, wearing a paint-splattered dress shirt and jeans, in the video.

Life imitating art? At one point the 32-year-old actor is seen posing next to a painting of Nirvana frontman and noted heroin addict Kurt Cobain

Heroin chic: Macaulay smiles coyly at the painting of Cobain on a Macintosh laptop

As for the group's shared vision for their first Greenwich Village gallery show, Culkin said, 'The sillier and funner, the better.'

The mural-sized canvases seen in the clip irreverently evoke satires involving pop culture figures such as Kurt Cobain, the cast of Seinfeld nude, Wheel of Fortune, dogs playing poker, and one piece affectionately titled 'Hellraiser Disco Luau.'

At one point a barefoot Macaulay, who also works as a DJ, is even seen smiling coyly while posing next to a painting of the Nirvana frontman and noted heroin addict.

Mack is back: The former child star, who is worth a reported $15 million, looks to be in good spirits in the clip

New chapter: A barefoot Culkin proudly wears his paint-splattered dress shirt and jeans

Back in February - the same month the trio formed - many speculated the former child star had a drug habit or a terrible illness when he stepped out sipping a Red Bull looking emaciated.

The National Enquirer reported that he was 'close to death,' because of an addiction to prescription drugs and heroin - claims his publicist Michelle Bega told MailOnline were 'fictitious' and 'categorically without merit.'

Concern waned when, last month, a healthier-looking Macaulay attended fellow child star Natalie Portman's Big Sur wedding and was seen out and about in Manhattan.

Visual artist: Macaulay's last acting job was on the TV series Kings back in 2009 and his last film was the dark comedy Sex and Breakfast back in 2007

3MB: Culkin created Three Men and a Baby (3MB), an art collective with friends Adam Green and Toby Goodshank

3MB: Culkin created Three Men and a Baby (3MB), a collective with friends Adam Green and Toby Goodshank

Cooperation: The trio have been using Culkin's $2 million New York apartment as an elaborate painting studio

Macaulay's last acting job was on the TV series Kings back in 2009 and his last film was the dark comedy Sex and Breakfast back in 2007.

At the height of his fame he was regarded as the most successful child actor since Shirley Temple.

Macaulay once quipped: 'I’d made enough money by the time I was 12 to never have to work again.'

Six months later: The Uncle Buck star appeared considerably healthier last month than in February - the same month his art collective formed

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There was never anything wrong with him. They just took a really bad photo when he was obviously having an off day and printed it over and over again and decided he was on drugs. It was a load of nonsense.

- Mark , UK, 09/9/2012 21:52

Click to rate Rating 127

Thank god! I thought the end was near after those photos earlier this year. Looking much better. Keep it up :-)

- Debz6476 , Notts, UK, 09/9/2012 21:47

Click to rate Rating 78

He's had a wash, a shave & is holding his head in a better position - seriously people - get a grip! Even if he's had some troubles, he is just another child star with so much pressure at such a young age.

- Loobylaura , Manchester, 09/9/2012 20:46

Click to rate Rating 77

ahh looking good!

- Jenn x , West midlands, 09/9/2012 20:41

Click to rate Rating 49

I am happy to see him in better health

- Just giving my opinion , daily mail, 09/9/2012 20:22

Click to rate Rating 59

Picture 11... Suffering Jesus!!!!

- Louise , Dublin, 09/9/2012 20:22

Click to rate Rating 10

I don't care that he's Kevin. I still definitely would.

- Amy86 , London, 09/9/2012 20:06

Click to rate Rating 12

I love him. There is something so cool about him.

- Enie , Northants.UK, 09/9/2012 20:03

Click to rate Rating 36

Well done lad, you're looking much better!

- Elizabeth Bennet , North West England, United Kingdom, 09/9/2012 19:43

Click to rate Rating 44

To me he had always been an annoying kid, but I respect him for sticking up for Michael Jackson at a time when it was fashionable to scorn and ridicule the singer. It was only after MJ's death that Jordan Chandler admitted he had lied about the allegations.

- Marek Mazur , Kielce, 09/9/2012 19:27

Click to rate Rating 48

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